The name World came about in the 1930s. The small downtown Minneapolis World was cut out of a larger older cinema. Around the same time the 1910 Shubert in St. Paul was renamed the World. Today the St. Paul house is the Fitzgerald. The Minneapolis house is long gone.
The name World was chosen because these two cinemas started out screening international films. So in the early 1950s the “suburban” World started out the same way, screening non-Hollywood international films.

The name “Suburban World” dates back to the years when Ted Mann owned this theater along with a number of others including the downtown World Theater on 7th Street just west of Hennepin Avenue. The name was chosen, I believe, simply to differentiate it from the downtown theater. I agree that the original name “Granada” should be reinstated.

This is the only operating theater I know of in the Twin Cities area with spanish influence. The only other that even comes close is the old El Lago Theater next to the Lake Street Garage restaraunt. That theater, was, however turned into a church a long time ago, and I dont believe much of the original interior is left, though there is still a gorgeous facade with beautiful spanish wall ornamentation at the main entry. I too wonder why the name was switched to Suburban World. I’m pretty sure that name doesn’t describe the theater as well as Granada does. I would like to see the name changed back to Granada, and the original sign recreated. I dont think many people realize how grand the place is because unfortunately Suburban World does not sound so ritzy.

Cartoon Brunch is back at the Suburban World! (as of 11/11/2006) I went on Saturday, 11/18/06, and had a fun time. The Spanish/Mediterranean theme, the stars, and the cloud machine are all still there! They also have an NFL brunch every Sunday, and various special events, musical shows, and film festivals (It was the headquarters for the 2006 Minneapolis/St Paul International Film Fest)

Before the conversion to cinema grill, the seating was 600, which came about after a re-seating and remodel of the lobby which took place in 1966-67. Prior to that, the seating was probably in the 800 range.

The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra has a home, at, where else?, Symphony Hall!! The theater is much too small for symphony orchestra.

The theater closed in 2003 after a plan to reorganize it as a multi-pupose entertainment venue fell through. The owner would not negotiate with the tenant, or something along those lines. The group that was to run the theater is now putting their energy into another neighborhood theater, the Hollywood Theater in Mpls./theaters/5994/

The Suburban World has been converted into a cinema cafe (probably around late 2000) seating considerably fewer than 800. However the atmospheric interior is still intact and the cloud machine is still rolling!